Kickoff Meeting Presentation

March 3, 2009

Presentation Topics• Description of the Proposed Project

• Need for the Project

• Project Background

• Description of the Current Study

• Public Involvement Opportunities

• Study Status and Next Steps

• Questions and Answers

the Proposed

Project

• to modify or replace the railroad bridge over Harlem Avenue

• to reconstruct or modify various interconnected roadway and pedestrian facilities

• to modify or replace the railroad bridge over Harlem Avenue

• to improve the area through consideration of intermodal and aesthetic enhancements

• to reconstruct various interconnected roadway and pedestrian facilities

• to modify or replace the railroad bridge over Harlem Avenue

the Need for the

Project

• viaduct does not meet current design standards

• viaduct does not meet current design standards

• these factors may influence the frequency of traffic accidents in the vicinity of the underpass

• Traffic

– area is heavily traveled

– vehicular traffic on Harlem

– pedestrian traffic along Harlem and the surrounding area

– rail traffic over viaduct

Railroad TracksRailroad TracksRailroad TracksRailroad Tracks

Harlem Ave.Harlem Ave.Harlem Ave.Harlem Ave.

Project Background

• railroad bridge over Harlem Avenue originally built in the 1920s to carry the Chicago and North Western Railway tracks

• only changes since then have been:– tracks added for CTA

– roadway lowered as a stopgap improvement to increase clearance to 14 feet, which is still considered deficient

• 1990s: IDOT improvements to Harlem Avenue– issues associated with this viaduct

caused its improvements to be deferred

• 1999: Villages conduct a feasibility study for for viaduct replacement – study explored various

replacement schemes for the structure and reconfiguration of Harlem Avenue

• In 2007 River Forest, through the efforts of Congressman Danny Davis and Village President Frank Paris, received funding through the HPP program for a full planning study

• River Forest, in cooperation with Oak Park and Forest Park, hired a team of consulting engineers and planners to assist them in completing the planning study

the Current Study

• intended to meet several objectives:– determine the best design

concept for a replacement structure that would meet current standards

• intended to meet several objectives:– determine the best design

concept for a replacement structure that would meet current standards

– determine the best design concept for improving the roadway on this section of Harlem Ave

• intended to meet several objectives:– determine the best design

concept for a replacement structure that would meet current standards

– determine the best design concept for improving the roadway on this section of Harlem Ave

– explore ways in which non-motorized travel can be better accommodated at this location

• will also examine the social, physical and environmental effects of these design concepts on surrounding area

• study objectives derive, in part, from NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)– required when federal funding is involved

– requires careful examination of impacts before decisions are made

– this requires development of various alternative design concepts

• only after all the above has been analyzed will the final design concept be selected

Public

Involvement

• public and agency involvement is essential– to understand the study area

conditions from users’ perspectives

– to develop design concepts that best serve all users

• public and agency involvement is essential– to understand the study area

conditions from users’ perspectives

– to develop design concepts that best serve all users

– to better understand how the project would affect the community

• public and agency involvement is essential– to understand the study area

conditions from users’ perspectives

– to develop design concepts that best serve all users

– to better understand how the project would affect the community

– to ensure that area residents and businesses are aware of the proposed project and the changes it might bring to the area

• basic public involvement objectives are:– to inform the public about the study, it’s objectives, and its

progress

– to hear from the public about the study area conditions and problems caused by the current viaduct and roadway design

– to hear from the public about possible solutions to the problem that the study is addressing

• methods for achieving those objectives include– today’s meeting

– alternatives public meeting

– formal public hearing

– project web site*

– individual or small group meetings, as necessary

– steering committee

*www.harlemunderpass.com

• the steering committee– will be formed in the weeks

following tonight’s meeting

– invitees will comprise representatives from area stakeholders, including

– the three villages

– civic and other non-governmental organizations with a stake in the study

– the business community

– the railroads will also be invited

• the steering committee– will meet several times over the

course of the study

– will help in information exchange between the villages

– will help our study team understand project issues from the user’s perspectives

– will help create the best possible solutions to the problem

Study Status / Next

Steps

• tonight’s meeting is the kickoff of our public involvement activities

• steering committee will be formed in next several weeks

• all required surveying to precisely locate existing conditions has been completed

• all required traffic counts have been collected

• crash (accident) data for the most recent 3-year period will be collected (since 2008 just ended)

• traffic and accident data will be analyzed to determine project problems and issues

• preliminary design concepts will be prepared

• study should be complete by fall of 2010

• followed by next steps in the overall process: design, ROW, and construction

Questions and

Answers